Record holder for talking machines



S T WILLIAMS RECORD HOLDER FOR TALKING'MACHINES Filed Dec. 1,. 1923 y TTORNEYS Nov 24, 1925 WIT/V555 Patented Nov. 24, 19?;5.

`UNITED STAES rarsar crrics.

SELDON T. VILLIAMS, OF EVOODBURY, EV JERSEY, SSEGNOB, TO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CRPORATION OF NEV JERSEY.

RECORD HOLDER FOR TALKNG MACHINES.

Application filed December To all cti/0m t may concern.:

Be it known that I, SELDON T. lVILLrAMs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vioodbury, in the county of Gloucester, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Record Holders for Talking lllachines,r of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to record holders for talking machines and in particular relates to the providing of record holding and retaining vdevices within the casing of relatively small portable cabineted talkingmachines when the machine is being carried from one place to another.

ln designing and constructing portable cabineted or enclosed talking machines, the various parts of the sound reproducing mechanism are arranged and disposed in the case or cabinet in the most compact and advantageous manner, it being desirable to make the cabinet only large enough to contain the necessary mechanism, with the result that almost all of the space within the cabinet is occupied by the parts of the sound reproducing mechanism. y

Of course, it would beA possible to increase the size of the casing of a portable talking machine toprovide a compartment in which records might be placed and transported, but that is undesirable because portable talking machines are at best quite heavy and bulky and any increase in the size of the cabinet would detract from the portability of the machine.

ln almost any portable talking machines, however, and particularly in those wherein the sound reproducer is connected to the free end of a horizontally swinging pivoted tone arm to be propelled across therecord by the engagement of the stylus with the sound record groove, there must be a clear space between the turntable and the lower surface of the swinging arm because the axis of the swinging portion of the tone arm and the axis of the circular sound box attached thereto are in substantially the same plane and the distance between the axis of the sound boi; and the turntable is consequently considerably greater than the radius of the largest transverse section of the horizontally swinging portion of the tone arm. This clear unoccupied space between the turntable and the swinging arm is boris @Getal-ly 21S liefs@ .0r larger than the turn- 1, 1923. serial No. 677,948.

table and the record adapted to be placed thereon, and said space is vertically as high as a stack of five or siX or possibly more disc talking machine records.l llt is this space that l utilize to store a plurality of records and fixedly clamp them in said space when the machine is being transported from place to place, without increasing in any manner whatsoever the outside dimensions of the casing or cabinet, and this constitutes one of the objects of my invention.

ln some talking machines of the type above referred to the swinging tone arm may be swung laterally when the machine is not being operated to reproduce sound, so that no part is vertically over the turntable. ln such machines there may be even more space vertically above the face of the turntable on which records may be stored during the transporting of the device. In such constructions the height of the stack of records which may be so placed on the turntable would not be necessarily limited to the distance between the turntable and the underside of the tone arm but by the shortest distance between the interior of the lid and the surface of the turntable.

- A further object of my invention is to hold a plurality of records securely and immovable with respect to each other in a space of a cabinet of a portable talking machine which might be otherwise empty during transportation of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and el'licient means for holding a stack of records on the turntable of a portable talking machine in such a way that they cannot move or chafe during transportation of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction in which with equal facility one or a plurality of records may be securely held and clamped on the turntable by merely closing and locking or fastening the pivoted lid of a portable talking machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide means operative to y automatically clamp and hold on a turntable one or a plurality of talking machine records by merely closing the lid and fastening it in closed position, y

Further objects of my invention will appear in the specification below.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which the same reference characters used throughout the Various views to designate the same parts,

F 1 is a longitudinal view in section of the upper portion of a cabinet of a portable talking machine and the pivoted lid or cover thereof, showing in dotted lines the relative position and size of the tapering swinging tone arm and sound box; the 'turntable with a plurality of disc talking machine records stacked and clamped thereon, and the record clamping member secured to the inside of the lid or cover of the cabinet or casing;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the resilient clamping member;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the same; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the cabinet, boX or easing 1 (of which the top edge only is shown) of a portable cabin-@ted talking machine is provided With a lid 2 pivoted or hinged to the rear Wall 3 of the casing 1 on hinges l. The tone arm 5 is mounted in the cabinet to swing relatively horizontally on a pivotal mounting G which may be located or mounted in the mouth or larger end 7 of the amplifier 8.

The motor board 9 is mounted on and is secured Within the upper end of the cabinet or casing 1 in any suitable manner, and to the underside of the motor board 9 is attached by screws 10, 10, the motor frame 11 Wh'ch carries the motor mechanism (not shown) for driving the spindle 12 which extends vertically through a hole in the motor board 9. @n the spindle 12 is mounted a turntable 11i, the hub 15 of Which is formed with a hole or bore which fits the outer surface of the turntable spindle 12. The lower end of the hub may be provided With a notch 16 into which fits a pin 17 extending transversely through said spindle, to prevent any relative rotational movement between the turntable and the spindle.

In talking machines, as usually constructed, the turntable spindle extends only a short distance above the top surface of a record placed on the turntable, itsfunction being for positioning the record concentrically with respect to the turntable. The upper end of the turntable spindle is usually integral With the spindle.

But in transporting a portable talking machine, the box or casing is liable to be put in any position. Vln fact, the handles of such machines are usually so arranged on a side Wall of a box or casing that the spin lle is horizontal When the machine is being carried from place to place'. lt is therefore desirable to secure the turntable to the spindle resilient,

in such a manner that it will not become separated from the spindle during the transportation of the machine and handling thereof incident thereto.

I therefore make the turntable spindle in two parts, viz., the main portion l2 around the top of which the turntable hub l5 smoothly lits and a coaxial extension lf3 which projects above the upper surface of the turntable 14 a little higher than the height of a stack of as many records as can be placed on the turntable Without interfering with the tone arm or the closing of the lid 2.

The extension 18 of the spindle so constructed that in addition to performing its function of positioning a stack of records concentrically with the center of the turntable, it also performs the function of inseparably holding the turntable on the spindle. To this end the upper end of the main portion of the spindle 12 is provided with a screw-threaded hole 19 adapted to receive the correspondingly threaded end 2O of the extension of the spindle. rlhis extension lS is proyided With a flange 2l which is greater in diameter than the diameter of the top of the main portion of the spindle, and when connected to the spindle, as shown in Fig. 1, it provides a shoulder which pre- Vents the turntable from being separated from the spindle. rl`he free end of the eX- l'ension 18 may be provided with a transverse hole 22 in which a rod may be inserted for tightly securing` the extension 18 to the upper end of the main portion of the spinw dle 12.

0n the inside of the lid or cover 2 of the cabinet is secured a resilient clamping device.23 comprising a flat base 2t adapted to be attached by screws 25 passing through holes 26 therein to the lining or sound dellector 27 of the lid and preferably to a block or strip of Wood 28 between the insit of the outer portion of the lid and the lining 27. The clamping device 23 comprises substantially three parts, the base 2l, the intermediate portion 29 Which extends at and makes a decided angle with the base plate 2l, and a head 30, the underside 30 of which is smoothly curved longitudinally. At the center of the head is provided a longitudinally extending slot 31, the narrow dimension of which is a little larger tha the diameter of the extension 1S of the spindle and the margin 32 around this opening or slot 31 is smoothly curved upwardly. The sidesV 38' of the head are also curved smoothly upwardly as is clearly shown in Fig. The clamping device 23 is preferably made as a stamping or pressing out of sheet steel and may be tempered so that it is strong and By reason of this construction, the underside of the pressing device is smooth, and curved to present no sharp corners or edges whatever to mar or scratch the records on which it 1s adapted to press.

In Fig. l the relative position and size of the tone arm 5 and the sound box 34k, whenv sound box and the axis of said portion of the tone arm lie in substantially the same plane 35. The underside of the tone arm 5 is therefore substantially spaced from the top surface of the turntable, and when the sound box is removed from the end of the tone arm or the tone arm is swung laterally7 to one side of the casing, a stack 36 of records may be placed on the turntable. As many records may be so stacked on the extension 18 passing through the usual holes in the centers of the records as will occupy the space between the underside of the tone arm 5 and the surface of the turntable; If the machine is wide enough to permit the tone arm to swing laterally so that no partl of it is over the turntable, then even more records may be stacked on the turntable so long as thev top record does not engage the lid 2 or the lining or deliector 27 inside of the lid and so long as there is space between the lid or the lining or deflector and the top surface of the records for the interposition of the presser head 30.

rIhe operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the lid to be raised, the sound box 3a to have been removed from the tone arm 5 or turned to inverted position as is usual in this type of machine, theV tone arm swung to one side and fastened or secured there in any suitable manner. Any suitable number of talking machine records are placed upon the turntable, the upper extension of the spindle passing through the usual holes at the centers of the records. The lid 2 is now slowly lowered about the pivot formed by the hinges 4. As soon as the head 30 engages the top record of the stack 36 of records, its downwardly movement with the lid or cover stops, but as the lowering of the lid continues, the intermediate portion 29 is flexed and thus the head 30 is held in. engagement with the stack of records. When the head first engages the stack of records the upper end of the extension 18 of the spindle will enter the opening 31 in the presser head and as the lid is closed the presser head will slide slightly forwardly over the stack of records until the lid is closed, the intermediate part 29 being placed under more and more tension. lVhen the lid is closed, it is then fastened in closed position by means of the vlock or fastening 3'? and the records will be held .on the Spindle immovable by the tension or pressure of the head against the uppermost of the stack of records. n Y

To put the machine into sound reproducing condition it is only necessary to unlock the fastenings 37 and raise the lid 2 whereupon the head 30 will remain in contact with the uppermost of the stack of records until the intermediate member 30 is flexed downwardly or away from the interior of the lid to its normal position, whereupon the whole device will swing upwardly with the lid away from the stack of records. rlhe lid may be held open by any well known lid supporting device.

The stack of records may now be removed from the turntable, the arm swung over the turntable, and the sound box attached to the arm or swung to sound reproducing position,'whereupon any record may then'be placed upon the turntable and sound reproduced therefrom in the usual way.

In'this way I have produced a simple inexpensive device which may be attached to the inside of the lid of a talking machine cabinet and which comprises substantially a hat spring having a smooth convex head offset out of the plane of its base or point of attachment to the lid, and is operative to automatically clamp and hold a plurality of records, stacked on the turntable and its spindle, by and between said spring and the turntable, by merely swinging the lid on its hinges downwardly to close the cabinet and by then locking ,or fastening the lid in said closed position.

Itis to be understood that the angle which the shank or intermediate portion 29 makes with the base or, in other words, the extent to which the head 3() is offset i rom the inside of the lid, is such'that if there are no records on the turntable and the lid is closed the head 30 may come into engagement with the top of the turntable, with the spindle extending through the opening or slot 3l, so that if it were desired to carry only one or two records, they may bc held iirmly clamped on the turntable just as well as the complement of records would be, and in the same way.

It will thus be seen that while a relatively large number of records may not be stored and transported by the practice of my invention, I have provided for the storage of a limited number of records, that is to say, from one to six, or possibly more records depending on the thickness of the records, that number of records, particularly if they be double-faced, being ample to meet the needs or requirements of many occasions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with aV portable talking machine comprising a casing, a turntable, a lid .or cover secured. to ,Said Casing,

and a turntable spindle, of a flat spring secured to said lid and having a free end olset therefrom and adapted to press against the top record of a limited number of records stacked on said turntable and spindle when said lid is closed.

2. The combination with a portable tall:- ing machine comprising a casing, a turntable, a lid secured to one edge of said casing, and a spindle, of a flat spring secured to said lid or cover and having` a lree end offset from said lid and presenting a smooth convex undersurface adapted to be brought into )ressing engagement with the central portion of a record on said turntable by the closing et said lid.

3. The combination with a portable talliing machine comprising a casing, a turntable, a lid secured to one side of said casing, means to lock said lid in closed position, and a turntable spindle, of a flat spring having a free end otl'set from said lid and being provided with a passage through which said spindle passes as said lid is being closed, said free end being adapted to be pressed against a record on said turntable by the closing of said lid and to retain said record on said turntable and spindle when said talking machine is carried from place to place and said lid closed and locked.

Ll. A device adapted to be secured to the inside of the lid of a portable talking machine for holding a stack of records on a turntable and spindle of said machine when the lid is held closed, comprising a flat spring, having a base for attachment to said lid and a head or free end olset from and out of the plane of said base, said head being provided with a convex undersurface and with a passage through which said spindle may extend when said lid is closed.

5. The combination with a portable talking machine comprising a easing, a turntable and a cover for said easing, of a spindle extending upwardly from said turntable a distance equal to the thickness et several dise records, a spring having a base secured to the inside of said cover and having a free end offset from said base and from said cover to hold a stack of records on said turntable and spindle clamped by and between said turntable and said free end when said cover is closed, and means to lock .'aid cover in closed position.

6. The combination with a portable talking machine comprising a casing, a turntable, a lid or cover for said casing and a spindle, of a flat spring secured to the inside of said lid or cover and having a free end offset 'from said lid and presenting a somewhat convex undeisui-ace adapted to be brou ht into Dressing engagement with D C C the central portion of a record on said turntable by the closing` of said lid or cover.

7. The combination with a portable talking machine comprising a easing, a turntable, a lid lor said casing and a turntable spindle, of a Aflat spring having a base secured to said lid and `havinga free end oliset from said base and adapted to press against the top said turntable when said lid is closed and no records are on said turntable.

8. rlhe combination with a talking machine comprising a casing, a turntable, a lid for said casing and a turntable spindle, of a flat spring secured to said lid and having a tree end o'l'set from the said lid presenting a smooth undersurface said free end being also provided with a passage through which said spindle extends when said lid is closed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of November, 1923.

SELDON T. VLLIAMS.

Certificate 0f Correction.

4It is hereby Certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,563,300, granted November 24, 1925, upon the application of Seldon T. VVilliaIns, of Woodbury, New Jersey, for an improvement in Record Holders for Talking Machines, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 7 3, for the numeral 30 read 29,' page 4, line '72, claim 7, after the Word top insert the Word of; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oiioe.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of January, A.. D. 1926.

[SEAL] WM. A. KIN N AN,

v Actin-g Commissioner of Patents. 

